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Stephen Toulouse, Former Xbox Live Director Of Enforcement, Joins Gears Of War Team
Stephen Toulouse, who was a Microsoft employee for 18 years before departing in 2012, has rejoined his former company. Toulouse will be joining Rod Fergusson’s team at Black Tusk on the next Gears of War project as the director of community engagement. The news was announced on Major Nelson's podcast.
Toulouse served as Xbox Live’s director of policy and enforcement, setting the tone for the gaming division’s community standards. In that role, Toulouse instituted a policy change that allowed users to express their sexual orientation in their Gamertags. Prior to the 2010 revision, users were prohibited from doing so, touching off a widespread call for reform.
Since leaving Microsoft, Toulouse served as director of product management for Gaems (portable gaming entertainment cases) and has been with HBO as an infrastructure project manager.
[Source: Major Nelson]
Our Take
Toulouse was an active communicator during his time at Xbox, and earned a following for being direct and honest. We’re eager to learn more about Gears of War, and I’m glad that it will be coming in part from him.
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